By Muhammad Mamman
United States President Donald Trump has said Washington worked closely with the Nigerian government to carry out air strikes against ISIS targets on Christmas Day, describing the operation as a joint effort aimed at weakening the armed group’s presence in West Africa.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Trump said the strikes were launched following intelligence-sharing and strategic coordination between US and Nigerian security agencies.
“We worked with the Nigerian government to launch the Christmas Day strikes on ISIS,” Trump said, adding that the operation was designed to disrupt militant networks and prevent further attacks on civilians.
While US officials did not immediately release details on casualties or specific locations, security sources confirmed that the strikes targeted suspected ISIS hideouts linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a splinter group operating mainly around Nigeria’s northeast and the Lake Chad region.
Nigeria has battled armed groups for more than a decade, with ISWAP and Boko Haram responsible for thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions across Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.
Abuja has increasingly relied on international partnerships, including intelligence support and military cooperation from the United States and other allies, as it seeks to contain the insurgency.
The Nigerian government has yet to issue an official statement on Trump’s remarks, but defence officials have previously acknowledged ongoing collaboration with foreign partners in counterterrorism operations.
Analysts say the announcement highlights Washington’s renewed focus on Africa’s security challenges, even as conflicts in the Middle East and Europe continue to dominate global attention.
